South Dakota State vs. North Dakota State score: Jackrabbits rumble past Bison for first national title

No. 1 South Dakota State captured its first nationwide championship in program historical past with a 45-21 victory over rival No. 3 North Dakota State at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The victory was the fourth straight for the Jackrabbits over the Bison and marks a excessive level within the great 25-year profession for coach John Stiegelmeier, the 2022 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Yr. 

The Jackrabbits have reached nice heights since shifting as much as Division I, together with 5 journeys to the nationwide semifinals prior to now six seasons. Nevertheless, a matchup in opposition to their intense rivals supplied a singular stage. North Dakota State got here into Sunday as probably the most dominant program in Division I soccer, successful 9 of the previous 11 championships with an undefeated report in championship video games for the reason that recreation moved to Frisco. 

The final time these two groups performed, the Bison took a 21-7 lead on the Jackrabbits within the regular-season matchup earlier than South Dakota State stormed again. This time, it was South Dakota State that jumped out to a 28-7 lead within the first half behind a bruising offensive effort. The Jackrabbits scored touchdowns on 4 of their first 5 possessions and used a fumble from North Dakota State operating again Kobe Johnson to swing a double-digit lead, the primary deficit of greater than seven factors the Bison have confronted in a title recreation. 

South Dakota State pulled out all of the methods to pulverize the Bison. Quarterback Mark Gronowski, who earned Most Beneficial Participant honors, threw a bounce cross to fullback Michael Morgan for a 44-yard landing and later broke away for a 51-yard landing run to all however ice the sport to begin the third quarter. Operating again Amar Johnson sped his approach to greater than 100 yards speeding within the first half alone with the assistance of a 32-yard speeding rating. 

The Jackrabbits rushed for 299 yards and three touchdowns total, solely introduced under the 300 mark because of Gronowski kneeling in victory formation. The Jackrabbits averaged 8.7 yards per play and dominated the sport from starting to finish. Brothers Jadon and Jaxon Janke additionally mixed for 121 yards receiving and two touchdowns. 

North Dakota State misplaced a number of common season video games in a non-pandemic seasons for the primary time since 2015, however had alternatives to interrupt into the sport. North Dakota State quarterback Cam Miller threw a pair of touchdowns, however added two interceptions. The Jackrabbits protection did its job, too, holding North Dakota State to only 4.3 yards per carry. Outdoors of a 38-14 loss to Southern Illinois through the spring pandemic season, that is the most important North Dakota State loss since a 37-6 choice in opposition to Cal Poly on Oct. 8, 2005. 

South Dakota State beforehand earned a visit to the FCS championship recreation through the spring 2021 pandemic season, however fell simply quick to Sam Houston after an damage to Gronowski. This time, the Jackrabbits left little doubt. The championship is the eleventh in 13 seasons for the Missouri Valley Soccer Convention. The opposite two nationwide title winners in that span — Sam Houston and James Madison — are each shifting to the FBS stage. Nevertheless, the Nice Plains powers stay on the forefront of the FCS.